Venice the Queen of the Adriatic |
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Glittering, limpid city of floating palaces and misty canals. No cars, no buses, just boats. Rivers rather than roads, and the watery, magical atmosphere that is Venice.
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Many members of the GLOBOsapiens have already written about this unique city. I tried to look at it from another point of view. I collected some interesting facts.
Founded more than a thousand years ago by refugees erecting houses on stilts on mudflats, Venice has grown into a city of 117 painstakingly constructed islands, connected by some 150 canals and 400 bridges.
The city was famous for its special caffé shops. In the 18th century there were 24 such caffé's in San Marco Square alone. These became the favourite place among intellectuals to meet and drink coffe, they were popular meeting points for both foreign and national high society. Carlo Goldoni and Antonio Canova often spent many hours there.
The Venetians were also well known for their love of beauty women and love affairs were frequently and legendary. Gacomo Casanova became one of the most legendary lovers of Venetian origin. He was placed in the prison because of his habits, but he successfully escaped.
The gondola was born as a private means of transport for rich people, but then, thanks to it's great manoeuvrability, it became the most important means of transporting people. Over the past few centuries more and more canals have been filled in and today Venice really a pedestrian city. The gondola has become a tourist activity and no-one uses as a form of transport. The dimension, colour and apperance of these boats are strictly regulated.
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The Doge's Palace got its present form after radical changing during the 14th and 16th century. It was the Doge's residence and at the same time seat of many different political and social institutons. The fisrt floor was occupied by lawyers offices, the Chancellery or Naval Offices. The Grand Council Chamber, the largest room of the palace, and the Doge's apartments are located on the second floor. The Bussola chamber is a small room with a box where citizens could submit written complaints againts other citizens.
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Piazza S. Marco is the only true square in Venice. It has been the scene of some of the most important religious and political activities of the Serenissima as well as the center of Venetian social life for almost a millenium. A part of the square once was a vegetable garden of a monastery. The present shape was established in the 12th century. A small new square was built with the columns of S. Marco and S. Todaro, the city's patron saints, overlooking St. Mark's Basin.
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The first patron saint of Venice was St. Teodoro. In 828 San Marco the Evangelist substituted him when two merchants smuggled his mortal remains bach from Alessandria. San Marco's remains were initially buried in a chapel in the Doge's Palace but later a church was built. This simple church evolved into San Marco's Basilica. It is well known for the Pala d'Oro, one of the richest and most precious altar sceens in the world. It is covered with more than 3000 precious stones and enamel ikons inlaid in gold.The origin of the four horses of S. Marco is not well known, but it is believed that they came from Constantinople. Their heads were separated from tha bodies to make the transport easier. After arriving in Venice, the cuts between neck and head were hidden by collars.
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The elegant Inn Locanda Ca' Le Vele is centrally located within walking distence to Rialto Bridge and St. Mark's Square. From S. Lucia Railway Station and from car parcing Vaporetto line to "Ca d'Oro" stop, then a few minutes walk you will reach the street Calle Alle Vele.
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The Bell Tower of San Marco collapsed in 1902, luckily without causing any casualties, not even a pigeon was. hurt. It didn't do any demeges to the Basilica eighter even though it stands just a few feet from its entrance.
The Clock Tower's clock shows the hours in Roman numerals, the phases of the moon and the Zodiak. It also gives indications to the sailors about the tides which month are more favorable for sailing.
The Bridge of Sighs received its name in the 17th century, because the prisoners who passed it on their way to the prison cellson the other side would most likely see the beautiful sight of the lagoon and the island of S. Giorgio and freedom for the last time.
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The restaurant of the famous Hotel Cipriani. It has the perfect setting for arelaxing candlelit dinner, fulled by the enchanting lapping of the lagoon. The Terrace Restaurant, surranded by flowers and fountaines, is a serene gateway from the urban street.
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Published on Saturday June 18th, 2005 by deriek-2
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